N.I.E. Considers Adding Research Laboratories

Washington--The Education Department is considering the possibility
of more than doubling the number of its regional research laboratories,
according to an announcement in the March 26 issue of the Federal
Register.

In an outline in the register of how it plans to conduct a
forthcoming competition for the sponsorship of its research centers and
laboratories, the department also requested public comment on three
proposals for changing the number of research laboratories.

One proposal calls for increasing the number of labs from the
current seven to as many as 16, while the other two proposals would
create only a few new labs. The department did not in the announcement
commit itself to expanding the number of laboratories.

The labs, along with 10 national research centers, conduct and
disseminate research on regional and national education issues.
Established in 1964, they now account for $30.5 million of the
$48-million budget of the National Institute of Education, the research
arm of the Education Department.

In 1981, the Congress ordered the department to open the contract
process for the laboratories and centers to competitive bidding for the
first time; since 1964, continued funding for most of them has been
maintained by the Congress.

The department had planned to begin the competition last fall, but
lawmakers acted to delay it for a year.

In its announcement in the Federal Register, the department noted
that it will choose the missions of the new labs and centers from 26
"priority" topics--ranging from teaching to educational technology and
school governance.

The exact number of labs and centers, and their specific missions,
is to be announced in the future.

According to the department, sponsors for the newly established
research organizations will be selected by Secretary of Education
Terrel H. Bell, in consultation with groups of experts and using a
point system.

With a maximum score of 100, applicants will be judged on such
factors as the "quality of key personnel," "adequacy of resources," and
"plan of operation."

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